Friday, May 6, 2011

Today was just about the most intense day of Year Course thus far. I know that the experience of Yom Ha'Zikaron (Israeli memorial day) and Yom Ha'Atsmaut (Independence day) will undoubtedly top today's experiences, but I feel as though I got a real taste of it, and in a context that was inadvertently drew parallels to unexpected issues.

We began with a trip to South Tel Aviv. Now, before I explain this aspect of the day, let it be known that this whole week, in my two favorite classes, we've been speaking about Asylum seekers/foreign workers in Israel. In my Zionism course, we briefly examined it from a critical standpoint (critical of the government, that is). In my 'Israeli society through film' course, we watch "Noodle" (strongly recommended), which is an Israeli fictional film about a foreign worker's son. Today, we took a trip to South Tel Aviv where Noodle takes place. South Tel Aviv is an area that is mostly non-citizen foreign works. Many of them are here legally, bound by a contract with their employer. If they lose their job by means of quitting, being fired, layed off, ANYTHING, they are no longer here legally. Thus, many of the foreign workers reside in S. Tel Aviv illegally. Let me tell you, its not pretty. Immigration police raid homes and work places, asking for papers and passports, all of which are in the possession of the employers. Sex trafficking has a strong presence - women will come with the promise of having a job as a masseuse, but end up being forced into prostitution. And to describe the vibe of this area, about a five minute bus ride from wealthy clubs, beaches, bars, parties, vacation homes --in three words - Poverty, poverty, poverty.

We, of course, proceeded to the group discussion of Asylum seekers. The guide, myself, and Alexis explained the story of Refugees from South Sudan, and talked about our experiences working with them, leading to the oh-so-complex-bang-your-head-against-the-wall-because-everyone-is-correct debate of the governments political and financial obligations to its statehood vs the moral obligations on which the state was founded (Judaism, Holocaust Asylum). Where do I stand on that debate? I simply don't know. I thought that after living here for what has been over 8 months I would have my answer, but I don't. All I know is that this is an issue that needs to be dealt with and these are people who suffered our grandparents' fate and deserve rights.

The next part of the day was a part of YC's leadership track, where we learned about Michael Levin, the first American-Israeli lone soldier to die at war. He spent his whole life planning to join the IDF and eventually did. During the one month break that he's entitled to as a lone soldier, he went home. During his trip home, however (2006) the 2nd Lebanon war began, and Michael chose to go back. He rejoined his paratrooper unit a week early, eager to fight for his country that he loved. But he was shot and killed during his invasion in Lebanon. He's famous all over Israel and the Diaspora community for his heroism, determination, and Zionism. Today, we met his Mom and sister at Har Herzl (mt. Herzl), the mountain in which all soldiers lost at battle are entitled to be buried at, with honor. We spent two hours asking questions and speaking to them about their loss.

When I began writing this, I was hoping that I'd find some sort of parallel along the way between the two experiences I had today. Really, there isn't a parallel. They were just two very emotional hands on experiences that I wanted to share, and if you can find one, let me know.

There's something beautiful that happens in Judaism - a transition between negative and positive; somber and excited, painful and celebratory. We see this phenomenon in Judaism all the time - Shabbat into Havdallah, Yom ha'Zikaron into Yom Ha'Atsmaut, Yom Kippur, Peasach, Independence and the War of Independence, its everywhere, this fine line between positive and negative - perhaps to show us that one cannot exist without the other. Would Israel exist without the Holocaust? Would South Sudan be a free nation without suffering a genocide? I guess its the pursuit of balance between the two that we're ultimately striving for in our mission here.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The Israeli Film Strangers No More (www.strangersnomoremovie.com) has garnered a lot of attention this week after winning the Oscar award for best short documentary. The film explores the Bialik-Rogozin, a public school in South Tel Aviv that has students from an astounding 48 countries, including Sudan and the community that the school creates. A number of articles linked below discuss the film and the potential impact of the award. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/can-oscar-fame-bring-israeli-citizenship-1.346372http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/documentary-on-tel-aviv-school-strangers-no-more-wins-oscar-1.346168

Unfortunately, I mostly read Ha'aretz, but if you find articles from other sites, please feel free to post them as well.

I haven't yet found the film for sale Amazon or other websites, but if you do find it, please post below.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Have we forgotten our values? Does human life not come above all in Judaism? Are we not taught to love our neighbor? Is our Jewish Nation not meant to be "a light unto nations"?

Have we forgotten our history? Are children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors literally spitting in the Sudaneses' faces? I can respect; even find a great deal of truth in the opinion that the Sudanese asylum seekers in Israel cause a burden to our Jewish society. But these are PEOPLE, people escaping acts of Genocide, mass persecution and systematic killing. Does this sound familiar? Have we forgotten?

This is beyond the politics. This is personal. These are people in the streets personally verbally abusing ten year old asylum seekers. So I ask you: What does your ideal Israel look like? What values does it embody? Does this article about Arad, the city that was my home three months ago, sound like that Israel to you?

Monday, February 14, 2011

Last week, Joel, Jimmy and I drove to Arad with the Director of Young Judaea Israel, Dan Krakow. We took a route none of us except Dan had taken before, and it was a little surprising to be reminded that we haven't seen all of Israel yet. Similarly, every time I meet a Sudanese refugee, I am reminded that I will never understand exactly the pain suffered by the refugees of Sudan, or any refugees from that matter.

We entered a creepy, abandoned-looking warehouse, led by UN program assistant, Alex Brookes, to find four Sudanese men, two college students, two people from the UN, and one woman from the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, who incidentally had gone on Year Course when Dan was a Madrich, all waiting to begin a meeting, all determined to make life better for the Sudanese refugees living here.

The meeting began with the Sudanese men explaining exactly how they arrived in Israel.

Tony left South Sudan three years ago. After traveling through Egypt, he arrived in Israel as a safe haven. I can assume he acquired legal refugee status because he now works as a manager of a McDonalds. Tony was a veterinarian when he lived in Sudan. He spoke fluent, perfect Hebrew, with an accent I will envy for the rest of my life. He works hard to provide for his family, and the majority of the Arad community still looks down at him.

There are five different Sudanese tribes that have all settled in Arad, and most of them work under-the-table jobs or clean bathrooms at the Dead Sea.

At the meeting, we came up with ideas to integrate the Sudanese into the Arad and greater Israeli community. The list included events for children, events for teens (educational and sports), cultural festivals and celebrations, and rallies and information. We’ve already started working with the people we met at the meeting to make these things happen and are excited to be implementing them soon.

After two hours of chatting and everyone exchanging stories, one man tried to say goodbye, and had a bit of trouble speaking.

He said, "Thank you so much for coming and listening here to our stories. I feel, for the first time, like I am welcomed here and wanted. Thank you."

WHAT IS YOUNG JUDAEA?

From the

Yehudah Hatzair

Leumi Chukah

(Young Judaea

National

Constitution)

Vision:

We, the members of Yehudah Hatzair, a politically non-partisan, religiously pluralistic, peer-led, Zionist youth movement, envision a strong, vibrant, and secure Medinat Yisrael. We strive to unite Am Yisrael physically, culturally, and spiritually by strengthening it through aliyah, an ideal for which we strive, and the active support of an educated, empowered youth.

We, the members of Yehudah Hatzair, affirm that the basis for our t’nua is a commitment toward action using the following pillars:

ZIONISM:

Yehudah Hatzair regards the support of and the education about Medinat Yisrael as its goals. Programs concerning Israeli current events and stressing the importance of Medinat Yisrael as a national homeland for the Jewish people are implemented in the movement. Yehudah Hatzair recognizes Medinat Yisrael as a central part of Jewish life. We encourage both visiting Israel and making Aliyah.

SOCIAL ACTION:

Social action is a part of both our Jewish and Zionist identities. Yehudah Hatzair works to help Jews and others in need, aid Jewish communities both local and worldwide, protect human rights everywhere, actively strengthen Medinat Yisrael, and strive to form a better world. Yehudah Hatzair will take stands on issues that it feels are important based upon the basic principles of the movement.

PLURALISM:

Yehudah Hatzair firmly believes that all chevre t’nua, regardless of religious and political affiliations, can join together in one cohesive community. We accept that differences make our t’nua stronger. No chaver/a t’nua will be forced to surrender any beliefs unless these directly conflict with principles of the t’nua.

PEER LEADERSHIP:

Yehudah Hatzair practices a peer-led democracy as its method of leadership to be used whenever possible.

JEWISH IDENTITY:

As a Jewish youth movement, Yehudah Hatzair stresses the unity of the Jewish people, the individual development through Jewish values, a comprehensive Jewish and Hebrew education, and the preservation of the identity of the Jewish people. We do so through Jewish spiritual, cultural, and educational activities.

Our Mission

Garin Tzedek Statement of Vision, Mission, Action and Expectations

Vision: We the members of Garin Tzedek envision a world where every human has the right to dignity, opportunity and life and we believe as Zionists that Israel, as a state deeply rooted in Jewish morality, should embody this ideal.

Mission: Therefore we, the members of Garin Tzedek, have made the collective, conscious decision to support the rights of Israel’s Darfuri Refugees to dignity, opportunity and life.

Primary Action Plan: We intend to do this by engaging in meaningful work, supporting organizations, committees and individuals in Israel who are working toward this end. While on Year Course, our work will include, but is not limited to:

· Volunteering at the B’nai Darfur Refugee Shelter and Learning Center in Tel Aviv during the Bat Yam Section

· Working with Darfuri Refugees in Arad during the Negev Section

· Focusing our Jerusalem-Israel experience on Social Justice in Israel and Social Justice Advocacy

· Educating other Year Coursers about Darfuri Refugees in Israel

· Additional collective actions as decided by the garin

After the conclusion of Year Course, the way in which the garin will continue to advocate for Social Justice and Darfuri Refugees will be decided by the garin while on Year Course.

Expectations:

There are a number of actions that the garin expects of its members in order to most effectively represent and advance the cause of Social Justice. There are also expectations individual members’ have of the garin collectively. These include:

Preparation: to prepare for the task of furthering Social Justice in an educated, intentional manner, members of Garin Tzedek are expected to:

· Attend Young Judaea’s National Summer Convention, from August 14th-17th at Camp Tel Yehudah in Baryville, NY in order to meet all other members of the Garin for face-to face conversations before the beginning of Year Course

· Read “What is the What?” by Dave Eggers

Behavior:

Members of Garin Tzedek are expected to act as “Dugma’ot Ishiot,” (Hebrew for role model) and act according to the basic values of Zionism, Judaism and Social Justice.

Individual Members’ Expectations of the Garin: In creating a garin along these guidelines, we aim to create a group that acts at the forefront of Social Justice. We also aim to build a vibrant, caring community. We strive to do this by protecting and supporting our individual members and enhancing each person’s efforts in changing the world for the better. We aim to maximize our individuals’ efforts through preserving and promoting our identity and actions as a unified community.